THE Sandiganbayan First Division yesterday
ordered the arrest of Palawan governor Joel T. Reyes and
Provincial Mining Regulatory Board technical secretariat head
Andronico J. Baguyo in connection with the graft case filed
against them by the Office of the Ombudsman last Feb. 4.
Reyes and Baguyo were accused of illegally
issuing a two-year small scale mining permit to Platinum Group
Metals Corp. from 2006 to 2008.
Prosecutor M. Rawnsle V. Lopez said the
permit was issued despite evidence that Platinum Group violated
provisions of its previous small-scale mining permit. He said
the mining firm used heavy equipment in violation of the Small
Scale Mining Act that restricts its to manual operations.
Private complainant Fernando U. Santos of
environmental group Katipunan Para sa Kalikasan said Platinum
extracted 282,729.35 metric tons of mineral ores which was way
above the 50,000 MT annual production threshold for small-scale
mining.
The arrest warrant was issued despite Reyes’
pending motion for the deferment of determination of probable
cause. The governor maintained there was no basis for his
indictment; he said the Ombudsman failed to sufficiently
consider evidence he presented to belie the charges against him.
Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta signed the
warrant against Reyes and Baguyo and set bail at P30,000 each.
Reyes and Baguyo are facing a second graft
charge before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division concerning
another allegedly illegal small-scale mining permit to another
private firm, Olympic Mines and Development Corp.
If convicted, Reyes could face up to 10 years in jail and
perpetual disqualification from holding public office. –
Peter J. G. Tabingo
